ABSTRACT
Even during the Second World War critical voices were raised against Swiss policies, voices which have never been entirely silenced at any point during the 50 years following the conflict, though for much of that time they represented the dissident views of a small minority.1 Beginning in the 1970s disputes intensified, and since then the critical voices have multiplied significantly. Since 1995, Switzerland's role in the war has once again been the centre of an intense, often polemical international debate. As a direct consequence of this discussion, in December 1996, the Federal Council (government) and Parliament established an Independent Committee of Experts. This decision arose out of a desire for a serious, critical confrontation of the Swiss past, and of the charges levelled with regard to that past: the justification of such charges is independent of the motives of those voicing them. The establishment of the commission is an important contribution to the 'factualisation' of the debate so urgently called for, and an unequivocal renunciation of political motives, short-term window-dressing, and exploitation of the issues for other ends. The further demand that this process be accelerated makes somewhat less sense. Although research efforts to date have been significant, there remain many grey areas and black holes, which must be alleviated by thorough, source-based and time-intensive scholarship.2
